Young star Yusuf Demir extended in Hütteldorf until 2023, but was awarded to FC Barcelona for a year for 500,000 euros. Rapid threatened the worst-case scenario. Now there are only winners. A column by “Krone” editor Rainer Bortenschlager.
Why does Yusuf Demir extend Rapid until 2023 and then be loaned to Barcelona? So it doesn’t bring anything sporty. Why doesn’t Barça pay now and let him mature for another year in Vienna? And why only ten million transfer fees?
As soon as the hammer transfer was sealed, the critics reported in Hütteldorf. Nothing new. But Zoki Barisic did not allow himself to be ripped off. On the contrary: Demir only wanted to go to Barça, so Rapid also had to poke the even more lucrative inquiries from other top clubs from all over Europe. And Demir could have left Hütteldorf for free in 2022, had all the trumps in poker. Rapid threatened the worst-case scenario.
Now there are only winners – because what can happen to Rapid? If Demir doesn’t strike at Barça, he’ll be back in Hütteldorf next summer. And contractually bound. If he hits it, ten million euros will go to the green and white account.
Too little? Might be. The comparisons with Salzburg’s million dollar sales (Haaland, Daka, etc.), however, limp. Because the cops have built up a reputation as an international talent factory over the years. And they sell well-tempered players in the Champions League. Demir has played for Rapid 38 times. Mostly as a joker …